trauma-informed agency self-assessment

Trauma-Informed Agency

Self-Assessment

How to Administer the Agency Self-AssessmentThe framework is organized into ten domains drawn from a variety of disciplines, including

health care, behavioral health, child welfare, housing, and advocacy.1 Within each domain are

various operational criteria about which agencies can self-determine their level of proficiency.

Recognizing that the process of becoming trauma-informed is a continuous one, the

self- assessment is solely intended as a tool for agencies to identify strengths, weaknesses,

and opportunities for further development.

The five steps for completing the self-assessment are 1) agency staff completes the

assessment instrument; 2) staff review the results and, where warranted, facilitate a

discussion about why they scored each domain/criteria as they did and any individual

variance between the ratings; 3) the vetted results are synthesized for review by a trauma

informed workgroup, management team, or other appropriate staff; 4) staff select and

prioritize which domain(s) should be the focus for improvement for a given time period; 5)

staff discussions are facilitated to help identify the need for potential discipline-specific

assessments and to prioritize resource allocation and training needs. (An Action Planning Tool

for agencies to guide this process is included in Appendix A.)

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Purpose

The purpose of the Trauma-Informed Agency Self-Assessment is to provide a starting

place for agencies and systems from a variety of fields, including child welfare, behavioral

health, public health, juvenile justice, education, early childhood development, housing,

and victim advocacy, to assess where they fall in a continuum of trauma-informed care and

to engage them in a process of setting agency improvement goals. The self- assessment

identifies organizational milestones and priority areas for inspiring active planning and

is not intended as a measure of individual performance or data collection tool. The goal

is to stimulate intra- organization dialogue on how agencies and systems can increase

their collective resolve and systematically engage in on-going advancement of trauma-

informed care and practice.

Resources

Recognizing that the process of becoming trauma-informed is a continuous one, a list of

system-specific resources is provided in an appendix at the end of the self- assessment

(Appendix B). This resource list is not exhaustive, but is offered as a starting point to take a

more comprehensive approach to the on-going work of advancing trauma- informed care

and practice in your organization or system.

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Trauma: Individual trauma results from

an event, series of events, or set of

circumstances that is experienced by an

individual as physically or emotionally

harmful or life threatening and that has

lasting adverse effects on the individual’s

functioning and mental, physical, social,

emotional, or spiritual well- being.

A trauma-informed program, organization,

or system is one that:

1. Realizes the widespread impact of

trauma and understands potential

paths for recovery;

2. Recognizes the signs and symptoms

of trauma in clients, families, staff, and

others involved with the system;

3. Responds by fully integrating

knowledge about trauma into policies,

procedures, and practices; and

4. Seeks to actively resist

re- traumatization.

Vicarious trauma, also referred to as

secondary trauma, is the exposure

to the trauma experiences of others

and is an occupational challenge for

those who have experienced violence

and/or trauma. Working with victims

of violence and trauma changes the

worldview of responders and puts

individuals and organizations at risk for

a range of negative consequences. A

vicarious trauma-informed agency or

system recognizes these challenges

and proactively addresses the impact

of vicarious trauma through policies,

procedures, practices, and programs.

Historical trauma is often described as

multigenerational trauma experienced

by a specific racial, ethnic, cultural, or

marginalized group. Historical trauma can

be experienced by anyone living in families

at one time marked by severe levels of

trauma, poverty, dislocation, war, etc., and

who are still suffering as a result.

Definitions

Instructions: Please indicate the level of agency

adoption for each TI attribute statement below.

A1. Agency guiding principles and strategic plans (vision, mission and goals) reflect

a commitment to providing trauma-informed services and supports.

not at all minimally moderately significantly fully n/a

A2. Agency leaders discuss trauma-informed care in internal agency meetings and

in public forums.


A3. Agency leaders actively solicit internal input concerning trauma and how

policies and practices (services) can promote healing.


A4. Members of the agency governing bodies (e.g. leadership teams and

governing boards) are recruited to have specific training or background in

trauma- informed care.


A5. Leadership actively solicits the voice and participation of people using their

services that have lived experience and/or trauma histories and are healing.


Comments (examples of successes and/or opportunities for change):

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A. Governance and Leadership

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B. Policy B1. Written policies demonstrate a commitment to cultural differences

and practices.


B2. The agency non-discrimination policies are inclusive of sexual orientation and

gender identity and expression.


B3. There are written policies outlining program responses to children, youth,

family members and staff crisis (i.e. self-harm, suicidal thinking, aggression).


B4. The agency reviews its policies on an ongoing basis to identify whether they

are sensitive to the needs of trauma survivors.


B5. The agency involves staff in its review of policies.


B6. The agency involves children, youth and family members in its review

of policies.



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C. Physical Environment C1. Physical environment promotes a sense of safety, calming, and de-escalation

for children, youth, and family members.


C2. Waiting/reception areas are designed and furnished to promote dignity and

safety, have child-friendly features, and solicit youth voice in their design.


C3. Physical environment promotes a sense of safety, calming, and de-escalation

for staff.


C4. Policies and procedures are in place outlining how the agency will address

potential threats to children, youth, family members, and staff from natural or

man-made threats (fire, tornado, hostile intruder).


C5. Crisis intervention scenarios are practiced during drills and/or ongoing

de-escalation strategy trainings.



D. Accessibility D1. The agency has an approved Accessibility Plan to address the agency’s

response to service requests from children, youth and family members

regardless of language, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and

expression, and/or religion.


D2. The agency provides services that engage and are accessible to linguistically,

ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse groups.


D3. The agency provides services that engage and are accessible and affirming to

LGBTQI+ children, youth, and family members.


D4. The agency has mechanisms to address physical and emotional barriers to

services based on gender identity and expression.


D5. The agency provides services that engage and are accessible for hard to reach

populations (e.g. homeless, people with disabilities, refugee families).



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E. Youth Engagement E1. The agency provides children and youth systematic opportunities to voice

needs, concerns, and experiences.


E2. The agency specifies how children and youth will be prepared for service

meetings and other case planning meetings.


E3. The agency specifies how meetings and/or information prepared for children

and youth will be age and developmentally appropriate.



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F1. The agency includes all forms of family to help identify connections, recognizing

that some people who play the most supportive roles in a child or youth’s life

may not be related.


F2. The agency provides family members systematic opportunities for family

members to voice needs, concerns, and experiences.


F3. The agency specifies how family members will be prepared for service meetings

and other planning meetings.


F4. The agency specifies how efforts will be made to schedule meetings with family

members at a time, location, and setting that will accommodate their needs.


F5. The agency specifies how input from family members will be collected

and incorporated.



F. Family Engagement

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G1. The agency has a system of communication in place to develop/sustain

common trauma informed goals with other agencies working with the children,

youth and families.


G2. Strategies are in place to identify and work with community providers and

referral agencies that have experience delivering evidence-based trauma

services.


G3. Mechanisms are in place to promote cross-sector training on trauma and

trauma- informed approaches.


G4. The agency develops strategies that promote cross-system training with out of

network, non-traditional, community-based, and/or grass-roots organizations.


G5. When possible, cross-system training is organized in a neutral and fair location

that is comfortable to all participants.



G. Cross-System Collaboration

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H. Screening, Assessment, and Treatment Services

H1. Timely and trauma-informed screening and assessment is available and

accessible to children, youth, and family members.


H2. Screening and assessment includes/acknowledges historical trauma.


H3. The agency has the capacity to provide or make a timely referral to a

continuum of trauma informed interventions for children, youth, and

family members.


H4. An individual’s own definition of emotional safety is included in treatment plans.


H5. Staff members practice motivational interviewing techniques with children,

youth, and family members (e.g. open-ended questions, reflective listening).


H6. A continuum of trauma informed interventions are available for children, youth

and family members at/within the agency.



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I. Training and Workforce Development

I1. The agency supports training and workforce development for staff to

understand and increase their trauma knowledge and interventions.


I2. The agency provides services that engage and are accessible to linguistically,

ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse groups.


I3. The agency ensures that all staff (direct care, supervisors, front desk and

reception, support staff, housekeeping, and maintenance) receives basic

training on trauma, its impact, and strategies for trauma-informed approaches

across the agency and across personnel functions.


I4. Training and resources are provided to supervisors on incorporating trauma-

informed practice and supervision in their work.


I5. Part of supervision at the agency is used to help staff members understand

vicarious trauma and how they may impact their work with children, youth,

and family members and includes ways to manage personal and

professional stress.


I6. Staff members receive individual supervision from a supervisor who is trained

in understanding trauma.



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J. Evaluation and Quality Assurance

J1. There is a system in place that measures the agency’s performance (e.g. an

organizational assessment) in being trauma-informed.


J2. The agency uses strategies and processes to evaluate whether staff members

feel safe and valued at the agency.


J3. Children, youth, and family members are given opportunities to evaluate

the program and offer their suggestions for improvement in anonymous and/or

confidential ways (e.g. suggestion boxes, regular satisfaction surveys, etc.).


J4. People with lived experience are invited to share their thoughts, ideas and

experiences with the agency.


J5. The agency recruits former individuals with lived experience to serve in an

advisory capacity.



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Advocacy

Building Cultures of Care: A Guide for Sexual Assault Services Programs (Sexual

Assault Demonstration Initiative)

https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/

publications_nsvrc_building-cultures-of-care.pdf

Tools for Transformation: Becoming Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and

Trauma Informed Organizations

http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/

NCDVTMH_2018_ToolsforTransformation_WarshawTinnonCave.pdf

Behavioral Health

SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach

(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA14-4884/SMA14-4884.pdf

Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services (Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207201/

Child Welfare

Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

https://www.nctsn.org/resources/child-welfare-trauma-training-toolkit

Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice Toolkit (Chadwick Trauma-Informed

Systems Dissemination and Implementation Project)

https://ctisp.org/trauma-informed-child-welfare-practice-toolkit/

Courts/Justice

Resource Guidelines: Improving Court Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

(National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges)

http://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/resguide_0.pdf

Preparing for a Trauma Consultation in Your Juvenile and Family Court

https://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/NCJFCJ_Trauma_Manual_04.03.15.pdf

Appendix B:

System-Specific Resources

Appendix B:

System-Specific Resources

Education

Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

https://www.nctsn.org/resources/child-trauma-toolkit-educators

Issue Brief: Trauma-Informed Schools (Family & Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia)

http://www.fact.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FACT-ISSUE-BRIEF-TRAUMA-

INFORMED-SCHOOLS-final1.pdf

Health Care

Becoming a Trauma-Informed Practice (American Academy of Pediatrics)

https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/resilience/Pages/

Becoming-a-Trauma-Informed-Practice.aspx

Issue Brief: Key Ingredients for Successful Trauma-Informed Care Implementation (Center

for Health Care Strategies)

http://www.chcs.org/media/ATC_whitepaper_040616.pdf

Housing

Trauma-Informed Organizational Toolkit for Homeless Services (National Center on

Family Homelessness)

https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report/

Trauma-Informed_Organizational_Toolkit_0.pdf

Issue Brief: Trauma-Informed Practices in Homeless Intervention Services (Family &

Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia)

http://www.fact.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/

FACT-ISSUE-BRIEF-TRAUMA-INFORMED-Homeless-Intervention-FINAL.pdf

Juvenile Justice

Think Trauma: A Training for Staff in Juvenile Justice Residential Settings (National Child

Traumatic Stress Network)

https://www.nctsn.org/resources/

think-trauma-training-staff-juvenile-justice-residential-settings

A Trauma Primer for Juvenile Probation and Juvenile Detention Staff (National Council on

Juvenile and Family Court Judges)

http://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/NCJFCJ-Trauma-Primer-Final-10.08.15.pdf

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This document utilizes, adapts, and expands upon a compilation of definitions, domains and items from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma- Informed Approach (2014), Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center’s Trauma Informed Systems Change Instrument (2010), the National Center on Family Homelessness’ Trauma-Informed Organizational Self- Assessment and “Creating Cultures of Trauma-Informed Care: A Self-Assessment and Planning Protocol” and Virginia HEALS’ Policy Review Tool and RFA/RFA Checklist.

This product was supported by cooperative agreement number 2018-V3-GX-K064, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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